Tobacco-stemming machine.



G. P. 150mm.

TOBACCO STEMMHIG MACHINE. APPLIOMIUN'HLBD JAN. s, 19112.

G. E'. EGKART.

TOBAGGO STEMMING Mmmm.

APPLICATKON FILEDJAN.3,1912.

fatenteu Nov. 19, 1912.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

SN, A. NME..

iin.

LIU

DI La. mm 1 H, .M3 1

AG 1 Kub CML EMM E N FT GMA C0 AJ wm I TA D W@ www F 11 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

G. P. ECKART. TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE. AYPLIUATION FILED Mlm, 1912,

. Patented Nov. 19,

WHEN @www NN G. F. ECKRT. TOBAUUO STBMMING MAGHINB. APrLIuATIoH FILED JAN. a. 1912.

Patented'NoV. 19, 1912.

wilma@ G. F. EGKART. TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. s, 1912.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

G, F. 50mm'. TUBAGOO STBMMING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1912.

11,944,59@ PatentedNov.' 19, 1912. I 11 Simms-SHEET G. F. EGKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHNB.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. s, 1912.

Lfm Patented Nov.19,1'912.

11 SHEETS-SHEET' 9.

G. P. ECKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1912.

Patn'ed Nov. 19, 1912.

11 SHEBTS-SHEET 10.

G. P. ECKART.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE.

MPLIGATION FILED JAN. s, 1912.

1,445,596., Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 11 UNITED sTATEs PATENT ormonchoncnr. EOKART, or omesso, ILLINoIs, AssIGNOR To AUTOMATIC; STEMMEN co., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION orl DELAWARE.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I Gnonor. F. EOKART, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use 'ful Improvements in lTobacco-Stemming "Machinesg and I do 'herebyadeclare the following to he a full, clear, andv exact defscription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it *appertains to make and use the same.

Thisv invention has for its object to provide Van efficient machine for removing the stems and midribs from .the laminze of tobacco leaves with great rapidity and with the minimum amount of Waste of the laminae. .The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete machine constituting a suitable .embodiment of the invention.

-In these drawings: Figure 1 is a. view' in side elevation of the left-hand side 4of atobacco stemming machine constructed .in accordance with my invention. Figs. .-2- and 3 together constitute a icomplete central vertical longitudinal section of the, machine on an enlarged scale. Fig. -4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the machine on an enlarged scale on' the :line 1 -4 of Fig. -1 and shows the leaf ,feeding mechanism and part of the stripping orstemming mechanism of the same. Fig.`--5- is a vertical transverse sectional 4view of the machine on the line 5-5 of Fig. "-l-- looking toward the front of the machine and showingthe rear'faces of the stripping or stemming disks. Fig. -6- is a fragmentary detail horizontal sectional view of the lnachine on the line 6-6 of Fig. L

3" showing a part of the stripping or stemming mechanism. Fig. 7 .s a detail "top plan View of the reciprocating carriage carrying stem engaging means andcams for closing and opening the latter. Fig. 8 is a detail central vertical longitudinal section of the carriage, etc., shown in Fig. -7-7 and is taken On the line S-8 of Fig. -7-. Fig. 9 4 and L10- are detail vcrtical transverse sections taken on the lines 9-9`and 10-10 respectively of Fig. -7-. Fig. -11- is a detail plan View of a cam 'employed which is shown in Fig. --7-.

Fig. 12- is a'fragmcntary detail view in side elevation showing the mechanism employed for rocking the stein gril'iping devices shown 1n Fig. -7-. Fig. -13- is TOBACCO-STEMMNG MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV, 19, 1912. Application led January 3, 1912. Serial No. 669,243. 'A y a det-ail sectional view on the line 1341-13 of Fi. -3- showing stripper disks ernployedi Fig. -lbis a detail central ver`- tical sect-ion of one of the stripper disks on the line 141-14 of Fig. 13-. Fig. -15- is a vert-ical transverse section showing the huh of a stripper disk taken on the-line 'l5- 15 of Fig. -l4-. Fig. 16 is a fragl mentary detail plan view of what are termed the restemming rolls. Fig. -17- is a detail view in side elevation of the same. 'f Fig. -l8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view on t-he line A18--18 of Fig. -5-. Fig. 19- is a detail view of a cam controlling the time of delivery of successive leaves to the stemming mechanism. Fig. 20- is a fragmentary detail sectionshowing the means employed for adjustably engaging the gears for actuating the shafts of the stripper disks rigid with said shafts.' Fig. -2l is a detail vertical section on the line 2l2lof Fig. -20-. Fig. Q2-fis Aa plan View of the forward end portion of the machine showing the leaf feeding device employed` a part thereof being. broken away at one side. v Y

The machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings and which I will now describe, operates to shear the laminae from the midribs of thc leaves by drawing the .stems and midribs through small openings formed between stripper disks, the walls of said openings having relatively sharp edges which serve to cut or shear the laminas longitudinally .from either 'side of the midribs as the latter pass through the openings.

In the following description I will refer to the mid rib as the ustem since itfor'as a continuation thereof.

The invention resides most particularly in the mechanism by means of which the stripping is effected, and the most essential 'feature of the invention resides inthe provision of mechanism whereby the stripping of the lamina@ from the stems is accomplished by severa-l successive operations as distinguished from a single operation or relative movement of the stem and lamina, in the manner hereinafter particularly described. Associated with. the stripping mechanism is a leaf feeding mechanism, lamina delivery mechanism, and stem cleaning .and delivery mechanisi'n, all of which are essential to-a complete labor saving organization of elements adapted to deliver products ready for further treatment in the manufacture of various tobacco products, but all of which are4 auxiliary and subservient to the stripping mechanism.

The frame of the machine is offskeleton 101 thereto and from .which the feeding, stripping, delivery and stem cleaning mecha nisms are driven. .The drive shaft is adapt ed to be suitably geared to a source of power,

`as by means of the tight and loose pulleys 2 and 3 over which -a drive belt is trained in the usual manner. The said drive shaft 1 extends transversely of the frame and geared thereto by means 'of a suitable gear train are four shafts 4, 5, 6 and 7, the shafts 4 and 5 constituting one pair and the shafts 6 and 7 another air which carry the cu.` operating pairs `o stripper` disks 8 and 9 respectively. These sha s :also carry pulleys 10 which are loose thereon and over which belts 13 are trained, the latter being also trained over driven pulleys 11 mounted on a countershat-12 parallel with -the shafts 4 to 7 inclusive.. The said belts constitute carriers for .the leaves to. be stripped to 'place the same successively in engaging re' lation to the said stripper disks.

Associated with the stripper disks is aA reciprocating stem engaging 'mechanism which grips the stems of the leaves and draws the same forward through openings formed between said disks and thus causes the lamina to be sheared or stripped therefrom. The said stripper'disks together with the said reciprocating stem grippmgmechanism constitutes what maybe .termed the primary stemming mechanism. v Associated with the stripper disks 9 is a rotary"s tem` gripping mechanism which performs sub' stantially the' same function as theA reciprocating mechanism above referred to with 'the single exception that .while the firstnamed' 'reciprocating mechanism imparts 'movementfof.predetermined length to the. stems of the, leaves the rotary",strippingA mechanism imparts' an indeterminate and yariable Amovement to the stems, ,the lastnamed movement being substantially continuous throughout the lengthof the stem and middle rib of the lamina to the point of severance of said midrib. As shown in Figs. -13- to -f15- inclusivev theA said strippen disks aremade of a suitable sheet etal. The are substantially circular and each thereo is provided with four equally spaced peripheral/notches or recesses 14, the saine being substantially V-shapedand one Wall of each thereof being eut away angularly, as at 15, said cut-away portions bemg the first tomeet to form the bottom of` a rey cess open at its upper end to receive the" which the arrows indicate therespective distems of the leaves. In the center of each i of said disks is a relatively large opening 16 and extendin radially outwardly from said opening areour' equally spacedrecesses 17 which are flared so as to be of greater width at their inner than 'at their outer ends. Intermediate said recesses 17 are openings 18 through which pins or bolts 19 of less diameter than said openings are adapted to pass. The said disks, which I will '1n this detailed description refer to by the numeral 9, are mounted between two members relatively to which the same have a limited. rotary and a limited radial movement in all directions. The said members comprise an externally threaded sleeve 20 havingan annular flange 21 at one end. Loosely mounted on said sleeve opposing said flange 21 is a ring 22 which is held in .place relativelv to said iange 21 by means of the internally threadedstem 23. In the opposing faces of said flange 21 and ring 22 are recesses 24 which are radially disposed and flared so as to be of 'greater width at their outer 'than at their inner ends and in which helical compression springs 25 are received, the latter bearing upon the circumerential face of the sleeve 20 and upon the outer walls of the recesses 17in said disk whereby the. latter is maintained normally centered relatively to the axis of rotation of the-ring. The said disk 8 is loosely 'guided between the said flange 21 and the ring 22 `and may obviously, owing tothe yielding nature of the springs 24, be moved radially in all directions and is permitted a limited rotary movement relatively to the ring. Mounted upon the said sleeve 23 and ring 22 -is a hub 26 having fourradial arms 27v each of1 which terminates in a substantially semicylindrical. tapered guide 28.

.The said guides 28 carried by the hub 26 are disposed contiguous to the inner face of on`e'of the disks 9 and are of larger diameter than those contieuous tothe -other'otl said disks 9 and are adapted to-recei-ve the latter, as shown in Fig -`13-.

The disks 8 and 9 of each pair mounted on the shafts 4 5. and 6 7 rotate in relatively opposite directions sothat the apexes or irinei'lnost corners of lthe notches therein become so disposed 'relatively to each other in the horizontal plane of the axes of the shafts carrying' the respective pairs as'to form small openings between the same through which the stems of theleaves to be strip ed project, the said stems being receive in said notches 14 prior tothe overlapping of the opposed edges of two thereof and are released from said notches when the same again separate from each other. This portionof the construction of'the machine and its operation will be vmost readily understood upon examination of Fig. -13- in flirmlly 'rriorzrhle ih reoiiions oil :om

loosely ombra he poriori oi. ous hereto guides 'l (T pping rolls which y eecrihecla freoipr irmg priii o he Sros the notches nh rl agonist morera-mib lo Shari@ h; means o Y phiiwer reu its; ends with Whioh is: equip; projectj f3 ruchnzii s ed hy me firm 39 d).

gli loi l upon regge opposite plille rl @i outer wel s `wig the eonl'iourgeno with the opposer face sios' i tiene 4 in oritwzriy curved portions 5G the exi/reihe emi portions of which are substantially as xflrlely sep-armed from each other are the porliom of gaio slots.

The plunger is provided in its forward omi with a horizontal slot or recess 51 in which the ends of two opposed arms are 11e slams of the leaves in zu; obvious a-f? said arms conxitul'iug zuid. being iler referred Lo as grippers. Each is provided heiween its ends o purr or projections; Through 'which a piu 5G passes verl/ifnllj-J and 0h which :rn climi roller 57 is rotatably morini/eil 'els or: the inner opposed com 'faces erols #L Smid piu also proeots one oi' the slols i8, fh), 5() oi 1he :mil carries; zul :iiitfrictioli roll" h rotatable thereon and travels o1 Suhl slo'q The Said nulli'ri conci w `h the arme irl. to to more toward @zich "ripping #She stems While the amtirollers soumet with the innermost ils; of ghe slots 415, 49, 50 to Cause the said gripper arms ro separate as they approach he rospeeive limils of their4 reciprocal im romeni.

The gearing hel/Ween the drive Shaft l :md he Shafts 4l. to T inclusive, is such n.2. i mamita-in the hitler ooiisnntly in rotation so 'het during Lilie Stripping operation the notch-e iihrougljh which the :siem of ih@ .lez-'lf projo und is drown (by .menus of Said arms 52 und he parte. actuating' lhe sume) more i'hroug'h a given nro, mah in order thai; 1tho vzoll on the stein of the leaf Shall he maintained ooiistzmly lh Same in direoiioii from he hin'nnine' to the end of the erippirgj stroke oi l 2Q must he osoillatecl on the horizontal axis of its trurmions 30, so to cause the rubber 'l'zloocl ends of the grp'pers to more through the same length oi2 :1ro :is (lo Jdie notches in r'he (lishecluring: the travel of the projeclious 54 rearwardly through the slots 48. The osoillaion 'of the said sleeve 29 is el'eol'erl by means of :i :om 5U, Shown clearly 'in Fig. '-7--- und also in detail in Fig. -12--. Saud com com urlsmo a dish harm" t1 D @nfl rh e roller engaging' ih the groove o1' solo. @mi 59 zuid ai its other end is oon- "nid grippers, the sleeve' nected by means of a link 61 with a projection on the rear end portion of said sleeve 29 so that duringthe time that the roller on said lever G0 engages in said inwardly deflected portion on the groove of said cam 59 the said sleeve 29 makes a relatively rapid oscillating movement from its normal position to swing the grippers upwardly in position to a cord with the elevation of the stem to be engaged and simultaneously with engagement of the stem by said grippers again downwardly to the normal position, the last-named down-ward movement being simultaneous with the movement of the notches in which the stein is engaged. It will be understood, of course, that the rearward movement of the plunger 35 and grippers 53 takes place simultaneously With the last-named movement of said grippers downwardly and that simultane ously with the completion of this movement the rollers 58 of said grippers pass into the slots 49 thus separating the grippers and releasing the stem which had been engaged between the same.

yThe belt 13 is geared to travel with the same speed as do the notches in which the stems of the leaves are engaged and during the stripping operation the leaf isfree to move laterally over the surface of said belt 13. The leaves are fed to the machine in the condition that they leave the bunches or bales, the laminas thereof being crushed together. When the stripping stro-ke ofthe grippers has been partially completed, the leaf is engaged between the opposed vertically traveling portions of the two belts 13 and is carried, while thus engaged and after having been partially stripped from the stem, from the first set of stripper disks 8, to the second set or pair 9 thereof. The latter are disposed rearwardly Aof the first pair and the notches thereof, therefore, en-

gage the stems of the partially stripped leaves forward of the point at which the first stripper disks 8 last engaged the samex During the primary stripping operation the leaf or lamina obviously becomes hunched orv corrugated against the front faces of the stripper disks 8 and is relatively tightly wedged against the same. rlliis bunching or corrugation and compression of the lamina around' and in the notches of the stripper disks natirally'prevents the sharp edges of said notches from performing the shearing function through a long length of lamina and consequently the primary stroke is rendered relatively short "so as to separate the toughest portion of the midrib of the leaf, and terminates at a point. Where the strain or tension on the stem necessary to continue the stripping operation becomesv so great asto exceed the strength of such midrib and would, if continued, cause the latter to tear. 'During the passage of the leaf from the irst pair to the second pair of said stripper disks 8 and 9 respectively5 that portion of the lamina which had been previously hunched, corrugated and compressed against the front faces of the iirst pair of stripper disks is permitted to expand and unfold, and thus, when the midrib is engaged in the notches of the second pair of stripper disks 95 the previously hunched portions of the lamina will hang freely and permit that portion of the lamina which is still unsevered from the said midrib to come in Contact with the front faces of the said second pair of stripper disks andthus be subjected to the shearing action of the sharp edges of the notches therein. rfhe stripping operation is then continued until a portion of the midrib too weak to bear the tension thereon requisite to continuance of such stripping operation., passes through the notches and tears or breaks, Thus each lamina is stripped from its stein or midrib from a point in the latter near the point of the lamina to the base thereof, lamina as it leaves the machine being practically iiiiurcate and appearing sulistantially the same as leaves which have been stripped by hand except that the bifurcate edges are less ragged,

lt will be understood from the foregoing that the first stripping operation is accomplished by drawing the stem of the leaf a given or predetermined distance. The striplping operation is, however, completed by drawing the stem an indeterminate distance and with relatively great rapidity so that vthe length of the midrib severed from the leaf is dependent entirely upon the strength of said midrib and not upon a given relative severing movement between. the same and the leaf or lamina.

ln Figs. -8-, -1ti-, -17- and F18- have illustrated the devices for engaging the stem of the leaf to impart to it the final indeterminate movement relatively to the lamina to complete the stripping operation. These devices comprise a pair driven rolls 62 rotatable on vertical shafts 68 geared to each other by means of the spur gears 6st and 65 and which are also geared to the shaft 1 by a suitable gea-r train. A rocking arm 65, pivotally mounted between its ends on :t part of the frame, carries an oscillating frame 67 at one end in which lare carried two idle rolls 68. rlhe `said frame G7 is maintainedby means of a spring 69 in a given position relatively to the arm 66, the oscillating movement thereof relatively to said arm G6 being limited by means of a slot 70 in a plate 71 mounted upon the-said arm and in which one end of the shaft 72 of one of said rollers 68 engages. At its other end said arm G6 carries an anti-friction :roller which engages in 'the peripheral groove of the cani 7.3 mountedv upon a horisame. Sai

zontzil shaft i l the machine en f being the roi 1ere the driven vous 59; e

such Contact ami position to maintain tance from *eid roiv named position ie adapted o p said Sevei'zii puise said oem T3 ie iw die shaft iii bui. i to the seme en@ is of a, sp1-ing 76 on seiff move against die enable 'he rolle;

1^ rollers (iz m accommode against w" muy be ucl" the presso Jam 73 mici 'to e ter fol' obvious i wie coilstoiy n; speed and when into (bonifici '-irough me in or sems, the

am' 'wreeii *Sie Huis im@ speed. e? se lamine.

Chisive, are gem-e5; 1.*

is neessary, however, shall be cap to Saud Shafts so fies is sieeve T5 gaiust rotion means, 'mi emi* and Zi.w at one end wi?. which are Segmeni set screws pass um,

83 looely mouutec on r. ter carnes the sp'f The sind SieeveS 78 muy primary adjusment and the shaft. driven i seid sleeve 78 is 'igii readily understood.

means be provided 5o the immers so thai? the Uni llink 2i ,113.

sul L I und the l einem o' guide plates on the frame V i; imm in Fig; um o' ghe Lewes poe-ire sides in am #nid plaies S5 are and 68 and me toques beis :i mee-ib :we successivey l-i' regu mier-- mixed apart the E hm eiiuiigiious 9, said ienso fined veia-- 1, :mid noie/hes :is nos cui* 'ioi ioy iiectly in the mi@ remain been @im the :fifi/irl mojec .im meh i up al'diy and iles :md during rough a pocket .at as said leaf is deposited upon the feed loeA '13, the stem thereof will project beyond the rearward side edge ot' the belt and beyond the vertical plane of the stripper disks 9. The said plate 97 is laterally adjustable, as shown in dotted lines in l? ig. -22--, to vary the extent of projection' of the stems of the leaves beyond the rear 'laces of the stripper disks 9.

Mounted upon a rock-shaft 98 is an apron 99, the lower edge of which is adapted to contact with the plate 9G at intervals to form a pocket in which the leaves are successively received from the pins 91 and are retained during a given interval, said apron being moved out of thelpath' of the lear" at properly timed intervals to permit the same to drop upon said feed-belt 13 and be carried -forward thereby into engaging relation to the notches in the stripper disks.

On the shaft 12 is the gear 100 and contiguous to said gear 100 there is loosely mounted on said shaft a cam 101 having segmental slots 102 through which set-- screws or bolts pass through the gear 100 to hold-said cam rigid with said gear and permit adjustment of the same rotatably relatively thereto; Said cam is shown in detafil in Fig. -19-. In one :tace of said cam 101 is a groove having inward deiiections 103 at diametrically opposite points. On the shaft 98 is a crank 10i to which a plunger 105 is pivotally secured, the'latter being equipped at its other end with an antit'rictio'n roller traveling in said 'groove ot said cam 101. The deflected portions 103 of the latter are adapted to impart reciprocating movement to said plunger at regular intervals'to roclr said shaft 98 for the purpose of automatically retarding and releasing the leaves fed by the said sprocket chains 90.

Traveling over the horizontally moving poitions of the belts 13, and ata surface speed equal thereto, are small belts 100 trained over pulleys carried by the shafts 107-108, the shaft 107 being geared by means of a spur pinion with the gear 100. The shaft 108 is journaled in bearings in two `bars 110 pivotally engaged with said shaft 107. A cross-bar 112 supported, on,

standards mounted upon the Jframe is disposed above a bar 113 secured at its ends to the bars 110 and which is vertically adjustable relatively to the bar 112 by means of the 'threaded projections carrying the wing nuts 114, said bar 113 being maintained normally at the lower limit of its movement by means of springs surrounding said threaded projections and being adapted to be raised againstthe action of said springs by turning said wing nuts in one direct-ion. The pissure exerted by said belts 100 upon the belt 113 or the interposed leaves may thus be adjusted as demachine.

Loes-,see

sired. rllhe said leaf-depositing mechanism on opposite sides of the vertical plane in which the stripping operations are effected are geared respectively, to feed leaves to the lstripper dislts 8 alternately, each of said mechanisms being adapted to feed two leaves for each complete revolution o the disks 8.

Disposed below the `feed belts and in front of the vertical plane of the stripper disks are a plurality of carrier belts. The belt 115 travels longitudinally oi? the machine and .is adapted to carry such leaves as may not have been stripped ot their stems toward the front of the machine and deposit the same upon a belt 116 traveling transversely thereto which delivers the unstemmed leaves into any suitable receptacle disposed near the operators who are feeding leaves to the The leaves whose stems are not engaged by the' gri ppers 54 and which, therefore, are not stemmed, remain engaged between the vertically moving parts of the t feed belts 13. The belt 115 is so disposed relatively to these belts that anything enthe space between the belts 13 andthe disks 9. The belt 117 forms the bottom of this' space and receives said leaves.. As shown in Fig. --f1-- the belt 117 projects over the belt 118 which receives said leaves from the former and conveys them to the rear end of the machine where a suitable receptacle thereit'or may be placed.

The stems removed 'from the leaves ai fed by the rollers 62 68 upon a belt 119 which delivers them to a stem-cleaning mechanism indicated at 120, said mechanism comprising a plurality of rotating brushes, etc., which are adapted to brush from the stems all particles ot leaf'which may not have been removed therefri'im during the stripping operation and delivers the scraps thus removed into a suitable receptacle therefor. The said stem-cleaning mechanism forms nopart of the present invention and particular description thereof, is theretore, omitted.

The various parts of the machine are geared to the drive shaft 1 as follows: Said driveY shaft 1 carries a spur pinion meshing with a spur gear on the shait 121. The latter carries a spur pinion meshing with a spur gear on a. stud shaft' and said spur gear meshes with the spur pinion on the shaft 42. Said spur pinion on said shaft 2 meshes with the spur gear on the stud shaft 123 and the last-named spur gear meshes with a spury gear on the shait- 124;. The latter is geared by means of bevel gears with lib CTI

sind 'notches disposed et regular the vertical shaft 125 'which is in turn geared hy means of bevel gears 'with ihe shafts und 6 driving" the stripper ciislis and 9 and which are also geared hy ineens et sprocket Wheels and chains with the she s 126 from which theihelts 116 And iii ere driven 'in respectively opposite dire tions. The shafts t and 6 are geared by ineens spur gears with the shafts 5 anal 'i' to drive the latter inthe opposite direction st the seine need. The shafts le and 5 ere in turn geared by means of sprockets and chains with the shafts l2 'carrying the rollers ii from which the belts i3 are driven and. the shsftsli are in turn geared by ineens el sprockets :incl chains with the shsiits 88 to drive the sprocket che/ins 90. The spur pin ion on the shaft lZl meshes with e, spur eer on s shet l2? on which the rocking leiter 60 is pivoally mounted and the spnr'geer seid shaft l2? meshes with a spur gein" on the stud shaft 128 `which in turn meshes with a spin' pinion `on a shaft 7e, the letter geared by ineens of sprocket Wheels and chain i250 with the shatt- 131 'from which the carrier belt 115 is driven. The shaft is ggesrcd. by means or' bevel gears with the sin," which in turn geared b v ineens of bevel gears with the horizontal shaft 133, the iatter being geared to the shaft 13ehy ineens of spur gears. The shaft. 12S-ii is @cercai by means of bevel gears with the iongitnciinsl shaft 135 which has 'the Worin freer connectionwith the shaft i236 from which the csrri'er belt lQ is driven. rli`his shaft "35 is also geared by ineens of bevel gesrs n, shaft 137 which in lern is gesrefi "oy :nenn of bevei gears Withone oi" the sha letter being, as previousljlT descrihefl, oy ineens of the idle geen" 65 with the shaft G3 carrying one of the rollers G2. shaft 121 is also geared by ineens ci' sprocket wheels anci chain with the shaft 138 carry ing the spur gen1' from which the roils snel brushes of he stem-cleaning mechanism are driven. The latter is also partly driven freni 'the shaft 139 which is geared by ineens the sprocket chain 140 with she shaft The she 121 is further geared by ineens o' suitnl'ile sprocket Wheels :incl chain shzxirt 141 from which he carrier belt, 'iro driven.

.The gearing may obviously be chengczi und varied as desireri to promote strength, durability and efficiency sndloes not, 'in :incl of itself, constitute n part of this invention.

i. claim as my invention:

l. ln a machine olI the lrincl specified, the combination with rotatable shipper fiislzs equipped with cenet-ing peripheral notches :iclnptefl the stems of? leaves are adapted to ject,

inter f in ihe peipheries of said d to form openings through which relai-ion o `enc L, he seine speed is oit seid. notches and nhstmitially the seme `nete i it intervals con intervwis at which ssicl notches pass e ce poli-nii in their travel to deposii' leaves upon ci rryinof ineens. in :i nisehinc f the hind siiceijed the wiih rosteble stripper (lislrs 1 cosctinrf peripherei notches through which t-l e steun-of leeres :ire mispiefi io project, seid les ispo 'i it ree'nian' intervals in the is, of n'nfnnsfor feedon tothe eid.

greens, :ineptetl. :is the inner ene .nongh in are oiY iorresgion 9; with ille radial cl1- r-c o? th. i i iid notches fr0-in.

i liss inici conine hitter, :incl ineens sciis, ce esponding; with the combine non een] @ne :ifienteil ro ed "ro t ce1 tested :it

intervals ssi notches it) 5 n een Ainni tiefei ro ille-posit leeres -Aol specified. the rotatable stripper disks eqnipneii with ces/th Perini. :nisneri te forni opcninirs tliroiwh which the stems of leeres )ted te project, seid arl ,.1 C' vos el 'mi' inlervsis in ihc oit ineens it'or eefl- Vl ion to ssifi ineens, editi f1- al as the inner f are or fh ediel clisssi@ notches from seid choirs end contter, devices con-A I on seid carry f .string between the letter tiny; ineens for actuating o. in his combination w peetively the sever-iii ci'i'ieei, flic per `(lislis notches v nongh which are adapted to project, si'. regular intervals in the stems oi seid not n ies into engaging relation to the seid notches, comprising carrying ineens, nciepteci te travi-l et the szizne speed :is the inner ens crc oit' radins corra minding;- with ihe radial (listen-ce the inn -eniis of sniil notches iron; the rfvs o1? rot 'on oi" seid lis'lisnno.

il one l' fl comprising csrryifig crei notches oishs, of ineens for seni notches, nnr through en reis corresponding t@ are deposited upon the carrying snostentially at the points thereon il; A ently register with said o stemming, machine, a pair disks having periphadapted to meet to -form openings and in which the stems of the leaves are adapted to tie engaged, said recesses disposed at regular intervals in the ieriplieries said'disks, a pair of traveling carrier belts, a. pulley rotatable on the axis of each ot said disks ano over each (if which one olf said he ts is trained, the Supporting` surfaces of said belts passing over said pulleys being` in substantiel elinement with the innermost portions of said recesses in said disks, and means geared to the loelt actuating means for 'depositing leaves on each of said belts at points therein adapted to more into alinement withsaid recesses in the disk contiguous thereto.

6. ln a tobacco stemming,l machine, a pair ot' rotatable stripper disks having peripheral recesses adapted to meet to form openings and in which the stems of the leaves are adapted to he engaged, said recesses disposed at regular intervals in` the peripheries of said disks, a pair of traveling carrier belts, a pulley rotatable on the axis of each -orn said disks and over each of Which one of said belts is t 1aineth the leaf supporting surfaces of said belts passing over said pulleys he ing in substantial alinement with the innermost portions of said recessesin seidv disks, means for determining the position of the leaves on the belts relatively to the side edges thereof, and means geared to the belt actuating means for depositing leaves on each of seid belts at points therein adapted to move into alinement with said recesses in the disk contiguous thereto.

C/ in a tobacco stemming machine, a pair of rotatable stripper disks having peripheral recesses adapted to meet te form openings and in which the stems ot the leaves are adapted to he engaged, said recesses disposed at regular intervals in the peripheries of aid disks, ay pair of traveling carrier l ey rotatable on the axis oit' escl.

belts, a pull n of said disls endover each oi' which one oi seid loe ts is trained, the ieait supporting surfeces ot belts passingr over .i 'd pulleys hein-.g in substantial elinemenr. with the i-zermost portionsoi' rece in said i dislehaving pluri' ity ot pairs l f3, and means grcarefV to the heit ectuetinig devices .tor a er'uatelv dei ref-:poeti e belts aty d to move into alinement with a t i e recesses in the respecytive disks contiguous thereto,

see i 8. 1n a machinel of the kind specified, the combination With a pair of constantly rotating stripper disks provided with peripheral recesses adapted when opposed to border openings through which the stems of leaves are adapted to project, and reciprocating stem gripping means adapted to impart. longitudinal movement to the stems projecting through said openings, of means for imparting rocking movement to said gripping means while engaged wit-h seid stems whereby the g'rippers are caused to Jtollov.7 the -travel of the notches during the stripping movement.

ln machine ot the kind specified, the combination with a pair of constant-ly rotating stripper disks provided With peripheral recesses adapted when opposed to border openings through which the stems ot' leaves are adapted to project, and reciprocating stem 2qripping means adapted to impart longitudinal movement to the stems projecting through said openings, of a carriage for said gripping means, and devices for imparting rocking movement to said carriage during the reciprocatory stroke of said` gripping means in one direction while engaged with the stem of a leaf whereby the grippers are caused to follow the travel of the notches during the stripping movemeno 10. In a machine of the kind Specied, the v der openings through which the stems of.

leaves are adapted to project, and reciproeating stem gripping means adapted to impart longitudinal movement vto the stems projecting through said openings, of means acting to impart movement ot' said grippiner means in the direction of travel imparted to the stems by said stripper disks during the interval of engagement of said gripping means therewith.

il, ln a machine of the kind specified, the comhiimtion with a pair ot' constantly rotating stripper disks provided with peripheral recesses adaptedwvhen opposed to horder openings through which the stems of leaves are adapted to project, and reciproeating stem gripping, means adapted to import longitudinal movement to the stems projecting through said openings, of a reciprocahle plunger, stein gripping jaws carried thereby, means tor opening and closing said jaws during their reciprocating movemeins, and means acting` to impart movement to said plunger laterally of its direction of reciprocating movement to cause said jews to foliosv the tra'el of saidnotohes in said. disk during engagement 'of the ste-ms by said jaws.

12. in a machine of the kind specified, the combination with alpair of constantly iso "ringe, plunger rotating stripper disks provided with pee ripheral recesses adapted when opposed to border openings through which the stems ot' leaves are adapted to project, and reciproca-ting stem gripping means adapted to impart longitudinall movement to the stems projecting through said openings, of a carcarried thereby, means for imparting reciprocatory movement to said plunger, stom gripping jaws carried by said plunger, means for opening and closing said jaws during'thc reciprocatory movement of said plunger, and means tor imparting movement to said carriage insa direction laterally to the direction of reciprocatory movement ot said plunger and during such movement thereof, whereby said jaws are caused to Yfollow the.direction of travel ot thc notches in the disk'during engagement of stems therein and by said jaws.

'13. ln a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a pair of constantly rotating stripper disks provided with peripheral recesses adapted when opposed to border openings through which the stems/of leaves are adapted to project, and reciprocating stem gripping means adapted 'to impart longiiaidinalmovement to the stems projecting through said openings, of a car` riage, means for oscillating the same, a plunger carried thereby, means for imparting reciprocatory movement thereto, a pair of stem gripping jaws on said plunger, and means on said carriage for opening and closing said jaws during the reciprocatory movement thereof.

14. ln a machine of the kind specified, the

combination. with a pair of constantly rotating strippe" disks provided with peripheral recesses adapt-ed when opposed to border openings through which the stems oi leaves areadapted to project, and reciprocating stem gripping means adapted to impart longitudinal movement to thestems projecting through said openings, of a carriage, means for oscillating the same,a plunger carried thereby, means for imparting reciprocatory movement thereto, a pair of stem gripping jaws on said plunger, and a cam on said carriage engaged with said jaws for opening and closing the same at intervals during the reciprocatory movement thereof.

15. In a machine of the kind 'specilied .stripper disks each provided with a central opening, an actuating ,shaftI of less diainter than said opening passing therethrough, col` lars rigid with said shaft between the opposing faces of which said disk is loosely engaged, pins mounted in the opposing faces of said collarsl and passing through open` ings of larger diameter in said disk, there being radial recesses in said disk, communi` eating-'with the central opening therein and having flaring inner ends and said, collars provided in their; opposing faces with rat dial recesses having flaring outer ends, and l helical'compression springs mounted in said yrecesses and bearing at their outer ends against the outer end walls of the recesses in said disk whereby the latter is permitted movement rotatably and radially relatively i to its actuating shaft.

1G. In a machine of the kind specified, the combination with a pair o't constantly rotating stripper disks provided with peripheral rece. s adapted hen opposed to border openings through which the stems of .leaves are adapted to project, and reciprocating stem gripping means adapted to impart longitudinal movement to the stems projecting through said openings, of a pair ot driven rolls, a pair of idle rolls between which and said driven'rolls the stems of leaves engaged in said stripper disks are adapted to be engaged to impart longitudi I,nal move-ment thereto, a rocking' lever can rying said idle rolls, a cam for actuating the same, and a spring engaging said cam and permitting the same to be moved against its action by separation of the driven and idle rolls by the passage therebetween of stems. y

1T. In a machineof the kind specified, the combination with a pair of constantly rotating stripper disks provided with peripheral recesses adapted when opposed to border openings through which the stoms of leaves are adapted to project, and reciprocating stem gripping means adapted to impart longitudinal movement to the stems projecting through said openings, oit a pair of' driven rollsa pair of idle rolls between which and said driven rolls the stems of leaves engaged in said stripper disks are adapted to be engaged to impart longitudinal movement "thereto, a rocking lever carryinfi' said idle rolls, means for imparting given rocking n'ioven'ient to Said lover, and means whereby 'a yielding movement is allowed said lever for permitting separation oi the driven and idle rolls by stems passing therebetween.

18. ,ln a machine ot' the kind specified, the combination with a pair of constantly ro tating stripper disks provided with peripheral recesses adapted when opposed to bor der openings through which the stems of leaves are adapted to project, and reciprocating stem gripping means adapted to impart longitudinal movement to the stems projecting through said openings, oi a pair of driven rolls, a pair oi idle rolls 'between which and said driven rolls the stems of llaves 'engaged Vin said stripper disks are adapted to be engaged to impart longitudinal movement thereto, a rocking lever carrying said idlerolls, means 'tor `imparting given rocking movement to said lever, and a spring operatively disposed relatively to said last-named means'to permit move- 

